Improvement in straw-cutters



`w. BoYcE. Straw-Cutters. NO.57,488. v Patented Dec. 8,1874.`

vWitnesses I Y l l er ky l i Q/Wf'b "Mgg Attorneys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.;

WILLIAM BOYCE, OF LOWELL, MICHIGAN.

IMPRovEMENT IN sTRAw-CuTTERs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,488, dated December 8, 1874; application filed March 14, 1874.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Boron, of Lowell, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Feed-Cutter, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation, Fig. 2 atop view with cover detached, and Fig. 3 an end view, of my improved feed-cutter.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to certain improvements in feed-cutting machines 5 and consists in the novel construction and arrangement of a double-hinged hood and lid, in combination with the other parts of the machine, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

A in the drawing represents the main supporting-frame, of suitable size, constructed of vertical standards with lateral stiffening-bars. An additional bar, A', is supported by brackets at the side of the main frame, and outside of the balance-wheel, for carrying the bearings of the balance-wheel and pitman-shafts. At the opposite side of bar A is applied to the front part of frame A, under an inclination of about forty-five degrees, the grooved guide-piece B for the roller-pin attachment of the cutting-knife. The grooved piece B is made adjustable, to be moved up and down, as may be required, for raising or lowering the end of the cutting-knife. The feed-box C is attached in the usual manner to frame A, land provided with a lid, C1, closing over front part and upper feed-roller. Lid Cl is attached to side rods a, which are pivoted at the rear part of the feed-box C, so that lid C1 may be swung back to the rear, completely out of the way, for repairing the front parts, and admitting the inspection of the feed to be cut at any moment. A pivoted hook, b, fastens the side rod a, and secures the lid O1 firmly on the feed-box C. A hood, G2, is hinged to the rear part of lid C1, as shown in Fig. l, resting sidewise on rods a, and swinging up with lid C1. This hood G2 forms the mouth through which the material to be cut is passed into the feed-box, and prevents it from getting into the shafts or other Working parts of the machine.

The feed-rollers D at the front end of the feed-box feed the material to the cutting-knife E. The motion of the feed-rollers D and knife E is imparted by the main crankshaft F, which turns in bearings of the main frame A. The feed-rollers are turned intermittently by a cam-wheel, D', of triangular or other shape, keyed to shaft F. Gam-wheel D engages a small friction-roller, d, of a springlever, e, which is guided in a loop-shaped guide-sleeve, j', and regulated by a finger-nut and screw, j", to the length ofthe feed required. Spring-lever e carries the loose sleeve g at its Lipper' end, to Which the connecting lever-rods g1 are attached. Sleeve gis adjusted by means of a set-screw. The front ends of lever-rods gl are pivoted sidewise of each other to the arms g2, playing loosely at both sides of ratchet-wheels g3, keyed to the shafts of the feed-rollers D in such a manner that the spring-pawls g4 of arms g2 engage the teethof the ratchets in opposite direction, and turn, consequently, the feed-rollers, also in opposite directions, toward the cuttingknife. The stroke ot' the ratchet-arms, as regulated by the finger-nut and screw f, allows 4the shorter or longer cutting of the feed. A cog-wheel, h, at the opposite side of crankshaft F gears with a pinion, h1, whose shaft,

h2, turns in bearings of the main frame A and side bar A. Abalance-wheel, Z, is keyed on this second shaft for producing uniformity of motion, and also a bevel-wheel, l1, which gears with a bevel-wheel, Z2, of pitman-shaft m, which turns parallel to feed-box in bearings of side bar A. The front end of pitman-shaft m carries vertically to itawheel with eccentric wristpin n, to which the cutting-knife E is applied by a thimble slipped over the Wrist-pin, to which the knife is applied by jam-nuts at both sides thereof. The pitman-wheel m gives lateral motion to the knife, while the roller-pin O, to which the opposite end of the knife is applied in similar manner, moves by means of a small roller,-Ol in the groove of the inclined guide-piece B, imparting thereby, simultaneousl y, up-and-down motion, and cutting, in connection with the cutting-ed ge of the front piece of main frame A, the straw, hay, or other feeding material at the adjusted length.

The feed-rollers may be made of any suitable material, covered withv card-clothing or other substance, which takes a firm hold of the hood, O2, hinged tolid G1, which is fastened to material to be ont, so as to feed it regularly the long pivoted arms a, the hood G2 folding.;` and without slipping to the knife. forward, and the lid O1 folding to the rear with The different parts are fully within sight, hood O2, and leaving the entire top of the outand not liable to get out of order, while the ter exposed, substantially as and for the pur-I strong yet simple construction allows a rapid pose specified. and eieotive working of the Cutter.

Having thus described my invention, I WELIAM ROYCE' claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Witnesses: Patent- L. H. HUNT,

The combination, with a straw lcutter, of a ROBERT HUNTER, J r. 

